Athletic Club knocked out of Copa by CA Osasuna

Athletic Club have been knocked out of the Copa del Rey semi-finals for the second year in a row as they were beaten in extra time by CA Osasuna, with Pablo Ibañez's scoring an unexpected goal in the 115th minute.

The match ended in a 1-1 draw, Iñaki Williams having levelled the aggregate scores in the first half after onto Mikel Vesga's flick from a corner.

Ernesto Valverde's side were infinitely superior in almost every aspect except the most important one. The Lions had 23 shots (six on target) while their opponents had six (two on target: one saved by Julen Agirrezabala and the other a goal).

What's more, Athletic had 18 corners and Jagoba Arrasate's side's none. And on top of that, in the second half, Nico Williams missed two glaring chances on the counter-attack

All this in a packed San Mamés, with a record 51,554 spectators who gave their all to help their team. The Lions created chances from the start. Gorka Guruzeta was denied by Sergio Herrera early on and Oscar de Marcos went close with a diving header

Athletic took the lead through Iñaki in the 33rd minute and shortly after Osasuna had their only chance of the 90 minutes of regular time, Julen Agirrezabala keeping out Kike Garcia

Nico's first great chance came in the 70th minute. Iñigo Martínez went close and in the 85th minute Raúl García forced a save from Herrera before Nico fired the rebound over the bar

When the game seemed set to go to penalties, Ibañez delivered the killer blow. Osasuna celebrated while Athletic fans were left to rue what could have been. We have to pick ourselves up quickly. On Saturday the Lions travel to RCD Espanyol and we need to keep pushing for a place in Europe.